Get able to look the perfect at the greatest degree. ESPN has ranked the highest gamers in ladies’s faculty basketball all through the season. Now it is time for the ladies’s Ultimate 4, and we are all the way down to the highest 15 gamers who will compete in Tampa, Florida, from UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and UConn.
There is not any marvel on the most sensible: UConn guard Paige Bueckers, who scored a mixed 71 issues within the Huskies’ two earlier victories, leads the way in which. The presumptive No. 1 pick out within the WNBA draft on April 14, Bueckers is in her fourth Ultimate 4 and searching for her first nationwide championship. She is one in all 4 Huskies in this listing. UConn will face UCLA within the nightcap of Friday’s nationwide semifinals (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Bruins, the No. 1 seed within the ladies’s NCAA match, even have 4 gamers within the ratings.
4 Gamecocks additionally made the reduce, although freshman Joyce Edwards — who has struggled the previous two video games as defenses keyed on her — dropped off the listing after being incorporated in our Candy 16 most sensible 25 participant ratings.
The Gamecocks meet SEC rival Texas on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Longhorns are represented through 3 gamers at the listing, led through SEC participant of the 12 months Madison Booker.
They’re going to all be vying to advance to Sunday’s NCAA name sport (3 p.m. ET, ABC). Sooner than the video games tip, ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel ranked their most sensible 15.
Guard | 6-foot | redshirt senior
Stats: 20.1 PPG, 4.8 APG, 2.1 SPG
Bueckers has been on a heater for many of March. She arrives in Tampa having scored 105 issues over her previous 3 video games, essentially the most in a three-game stretch for any participant in UConn historical past. On Monday, she handed Napheesa Collier for 0.33 at the program’s all-time scoring listing. And in that span, she has shot 59.1% from the sphere and 61.9% from 3. And Bueckers is masses motivated to win a countrywide name in her ultimate weekend in a UConn uniform. — Philippou
Middle | 6-foot-7 | junior
Stats: 20.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 3.0 BPG
What hasn’t Betts carried out for the Bruins on this match? Between her second-round efficiency and the Candy 16, she changed into the primary Department I participant during the last two decades to have 30 issues, 10 rebounds and 80% box function capturing in back-to-back video games. At the different finish of the court docket, Betts held warring parties to 17% capturing when she contested the shot, together with 2-of-17 from throughout the paint in the course of the Candy 16 and Elite 8. — Andrews
Ahead | 6-foot-2 | freshman
Stats: 16.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG
Sturdy was once impressive within the Huskies’ Elite 8 sport Monday, retaining them afloat with 10 first-quarter issues when scoring was once arduous to come back through. She additionally confirmed off her versatility, coming away with a game-high 17 rebounds whilst additionally registering 4 assists and hitting 4-of-6 3-point makes an attempt. Trainer Geno Auriemma has described Sturdy as a level-headed participant who treats each sport the similar, a high quality that are supposed to serve her neatly in her first Ultimate 4. — Philippou
Ahead/guard | 6-foot-1 | sophomore
Stats: 16.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.8 APG
Booker stands proud for consistency and flexibility. Her numbers within the Longhorns’ two regional wins have been just about an identical: 17 issues, 6 rebounds and three assists vs. Tennessee, and 18, 6 and a pair of towards TCU. Texas hopes for equivalent stats vs. South Carolina. Within the Longhorns’ 3 earlier conferences this season towards the Gamecocks, her absolute best efficiency was once 20 issues and 11 rebounds in a 66-62 win on Feb. 9. She was once held to ten and 7 issues in Texas’ two losses to South Carolina. Booker did not shoot neatly in any of the ones video games: a mixed 25.9% (14 of 54). Booker does not hesitate to do the grimy paintings on protection: guarding gamers of all sizes, combating thru displays, rebounding towards larger gamers. She is as at ease beginning the quick spoil as she is completing it. Booker has a candy soar shot this is arduous to protect, and she will be able to create one thing out of not anything. — Voepel
play
1:06
Why South Carolina will have to stay up for Texas’ Madison Booker in Ultimate 4
Carolyn Peck joins NBA Nowadays to preview the Ultimate 4 matchup between South Carolina and Texas.
Guard | 6-foot-2 | junior
Stats: 10.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 52.5% FG
Within the deep South Carolina rotation, Kitts has emerged because the steadiest and maximum dependable participant. She has scored in double figures in 9 immediately video games, with 5 double-doubles in that extend. Getting the ball to Kitts and Sania Feagin was once the Gamecocks’ maximum a hit offense tactic towards Duke within the Elite 8, and Kitts led the way in which with 14 issues. The SEC match MVP has additionally been South Carolina’s main scorer and rebounder within the NCAA match (12.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG). — Creme
Ahead | 5-foot-11 | junior
Stats: 12.9 PPG, 5.1 APG, 49.0% FG
In the course of the first 4 video games of the match, UCLA is capturing 69% off of Rice’s passes — the third-highest mark within the match up to now — together with 60% on 3-pointers. She has had a job in 39 of UCLA’s 80 3-point makes an attempt, both because the passer or the shooter. She’s additionally averaging 13.5 issues on 40% capturing from the sphere, together with 50% from past the arc. — Andrews
Guard | 5-foot-11 | graduate
Stats: 13.1 PPG, 44.1 3FG%, 1.3 SPG
Fudd has had some ups and downs on this NCAA match, her first since 2023 after sitting out final season as a result of an ACL tear. She hit six 3-pointers for 22 issues within the first around however struggled extra in Spokane, the place she averaged 9.0 issues on 3-for-11 capturing from past the arc. However she ended the Elite 8 with an impactful fourth quarter (8 issues) that helped put the sport away for the Huskies, and hopes to make use of that momentum for a robust appearing in Tampa. — Philippou
Guard | 5-foot-6 | senior
Stats: 9.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.9 APG
Harmon sustained an ACL harm in December 2023 that value her the remainder of final season, however she labored arduous to go back for 2024-25. No guard works tougher on protection: She is a premier on-ball defender but additionally supplies nice lend a hand to her teammates. At the side of main Texas in assists, she’s tops in steals (2.2). She is not averaging moderately as many issues this season, however that is extra a serve as of the Longhorns no longer wanting as a lot scoring from her. That stated, she’s nonetheless able to taking on video games, or getting the large basket at simply the precise time. Within the Longhorns’ regional wins, Harmon had 8 issues, 4 rebounds and four assists towards Tennessee, and 13, 2 and 5 towards TCU. — Voepel
play
1:51
Booker, Harmon specific satisfaction in Longhorns’ adventure to Ultimate 4
Madison Booker and Rori Harmon speak about their pleasure in taking part in in combination to achieve the Ultimate 4 and replicate on Harmon’s adventure from an ACL harm to a key function in Texas’ luck.
Guard | 6-foot | junior
Stats: 9.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 53.5 FG%
No longer best did Jaquez hit the dagger shot that lifted the Bruins into the Ultimate 4, however her 5 3-pointers that sport towards LSU is essentially the most for a participant off the bench within the Elite 8 or later since Baylor’s Emily Niemann within the championship sport in 2005. — Andrews
Ahead | 6-foot-4 | senior
Stats: 12.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 BPG
Jones is a Texas local who began her faculty profession at Oregon State however has spent the previous 3 seasons with the Longhorns. She is Texas’ second-leading scorer and is tops in rebounds and blocks. Her revel in confirmed big-time within the regional, as she did precisely what Texas wanted her to do in each video games. In opposition to Tennessee, she had 12 issues, 8 rebounds and three blocks whilst having the ability to stand up and down the court docket neatly towards the Girl Vols’ speedy tempo. Then towards TCU, she had 7 issues, 6 rebounds and four blocks whilst struggling with 6-7 Sedona Prince within, maintaining her to 4 issues on 1-of-4 capturing. — Voepel
Guard | 5-foot-10 | sophomore
Stats: 11.9 PPG, 1.9 APG, 42.0% FG
The NCAA match has been a curler coaster for Fulwiley. She performed best 10 mins in the second one around towards Indiana. Then she stored the Gamecocks with an excellent 23-point efficiency within the Candy 16 win over Maryland. Then it was once again to 11 mins of taking part in time two days later towards Duke. In spite of the fluctuating function, Fulwiley stays South Carolina’s best true risk to take over a sport. — Creme
play
0:17
MiLaysia Fulwiley presentations off her handles at the midrange J
MiLaysia Fulwiley flashes handles to create some area, then hits a midrange jumper for the Gamecocks.
Ahead | 6-foot-3 | senior
Stats: 8.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 60.5% FG
Usually a 3rd or fourth scoring possibility for the Gamecocks, Feagin has performed one of the most absolute best basketball of her profession overdue in her ultimate season. Her scoring reasonable has jumped to ten.4 issues within the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Feagin even changed into a go-to participant towards Duke within the regional ultimate and delivered with dependable put up strikes that she was 12 issues and 8 rebounds. The Gamecocks should not have survived the Blue Devils with out Feagin’s contributions. — Creme
Ahead | 6-foot-3 | junior
Stats: 7.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 42.3 FG%
Gardiner is capturing 11-of-20 within the match, together with a career-high 4 3-pointers within the Elite 8, giving UCLA a big scoring spice up. When Betts had to take a seat the second one quarter towards LSU as a result of foul hassle, Gardiner’s capturing was once the principle explanation why the Bruins have been in a position to win the length. — Andrews
Guard | 5-foot-9 | senior
Stats: 7.1 PPG, 3.3 APG, 1.2 SPG
After working out of eligibility at Princeton, Chen — the 2023 Ivy League Participant of the 12 months — selected to complete her profession at UConn in hopes of creating it to her first and best Ultimate 4. No longer best is she in a position to revel in that accomplishment, she is a large explanation why the Huskies made it to Tampa. With USC placing round Monday within the Elite 8, Chen got here thru with 15 issues, together with six within the pivotal fourth quarter, to lend a hand the Huskies draw back for just right. — Philippou
Guard | 5-foot-9 | senior
Stats: 9.5 PPG, 2.9 APG, 36.1% 3FG
In spite of her fresh struggles, Paopao stays the Gamecocks’ greatest perimeter capturing risk with a team-leading 56 3-pointers made this season. However she has just one previously 3 video games and has but to attain in double figures within the NCAA match. Paopao scored 9 issues towards Duke, together with the layup that gave South Carolina the lead for just right. Her capturing and management will likely be key if the Gamecocks are to win a moment immediately nationwide name. — Creme
